Top 10 server virtualization management and performance tips

More server virtualization management and performance resources: Virtualization changes virtually everything VMware virtualization management Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V -- How it works Hyper-V, your journey starts here!

Use these top 10 tips to learn about optimizing and configuring VMware vSphere 4, Microsoft Hyper-V and Citrix Systems XenServer and XenApp Server. You'll also find out how to enter the server virtualization market and generate new business from existing server virtualization projects.

1. Tuning vSphere 4 hardware for optimal performance
   Preparing your customers' environments for optimal vSphere 4 hardware performance can save them money and ensure that they're getting the most out of their virtualization investment. To provide the best server virtualization management services, you must follow certain steps and procedures before implementing vSphere. This tip includes information on these steps and outlines the hardware specifications that you should recommend to your customers.

2. Managing and optimizing the Microsoft Hyper-V server
   To maximize server virtualization performance and make it easier to manage, solutions providers should take their time with the Hyper-V configuration process. Hyper-V has many variables to configure -- from the virtual hard disk to the memory used in virtual machines. This chapter excerpt reviews configuration tools and explains configuration techniques for virtual hard disks, virtual machine snapshots, Hyper-V server settings and more.

3. Cisco Unified Computing System vs. VMware vSphere 4
   As cloud computing increases in popularity, Cisco Systems' Unified Computing System (UCS) and VMware's vSphere 4 are competing to build private clouds in enterprise data centers. UCS integrates networking, computing and virtualization technologies into one framework to simplify systems management, power needs and cooling. VSphere is a virtualization platform that lets users build internal private clouds or external clouds as needed. Find out which company is better positioned to help solutions providers sell their server virtualization management services.

4. Citrix XenApp Server configuration and security
   To ensure proper server virtualization management, there are certain measures that can reduce the risk of security threats. Proper configuration of the Citrix XenApp Server is crucial to mitigating problems that an organization faces when there is a systems breach. Use this chapter excerpt to learn about configuration services and tools, and follow tips on properly configuring a file server, installing Active Directory, using domain controllers and taking advantage of the security features in XenApp Server.

5. How to enter the server virtualization market
   If you are new to offering server virtualization management and services, take comfort in knowing that there are quite a few points of entry into the server virtualization market. Even if a potential customer has already implemented server virtualization, there are still many ways to use existing server virtualization products to your advantage. Using automated planning tools like those from Tek-Tools Software and VKernel, drawing on your existing expertise and staying abreast of emerging technologies are just a few of the key points for success that are outlined in this tip.

6. Evaluating VMware alternatives for server virtualization software
   If you want to expand your server virtualization management services beyond the VMware portfolio, there are several alternatives available. Solutions providers should not only evaluate server virtualization software from VMware's main competitors, Microsoft and Citrix, but they should also consider products from Oracle and Marathon Technologies. The start-up costs of implementing server virtualization can be expensive, so it's crucial that solutions providers offer lower-cost virtualization software with a strong return on investment.

7. Configuring remote administration for Microsoft Hyper-V
   When you're managing Microsoft Hyper-V, it might not always be possible to go directly to the Hyper-V server to make changes. Properly configuring remote administration for Hyper-V can save you time and ensure that your customer's data center is running efficiently. Use this chapter excerpt to find information on the several methods for Hyper-V configuration, including step-by-step instructions for configuring the Windows Firewall application.

8. XenServer installation and deployment guidelines
   When properly implemented, server virtualization brings several key benefits, including reliability and a high return on investment, to your customers. Clients are looking at XenServer as a virtualization platform that delivers consolidation, increased utilization and workload balancing. This article covers best practices that solutions providers should use when designing a XenServer installation and deployment plan and offering virtualization management services.

9. How to generate new business from server virtualization projects
   You might think that once a server virtualization project is completed, there are few opportunities for solutions providers to win more business with the customer. But in this tip, expert George Crump says solutions providers can actually add the most value to a server virtualization project after the initial implementation. Value-added resellers armed with the right tools can work with customers and earn new revenue by developing a capacity plan and migrating workloads.

10. Resource utilization projects add value to server virtualization
    By adding a resource utilization project, you can give a server virtualization project added value. With the current state of the economy, your customers are looking for ways to further improve their resource utilization and save money. Before exploring resource usage projects with them, you need to analyze servers that are not currently virtualized and introduce server repurposing services to your customers.